step-down trauma

Hi,

I posted in the ER thread but didn't get any response. So I'm posting here hoping for one.

If you are working in a step-down trauma unit, do you enjoy it? I was on one the other day and it was very fast paced... Do you consider yourselves a trauma nurse or a med-surge nurse? What level trauma is your hospital? Mine is a level I. Do you see all trauma or is med-surge mixed in as well? Any suggestions on how to organize myself would be greatly appreciated as I am a new-grad.

Thanks

First, a step-down trauma unit is essentially a med surg unit that cares for patients that have made it thru the acute phase of aome type of trauma.

It is not any different than working on a surgical step-down unit, the paitents are out of ICU but still may need telemetry or closer nursing care with better ratios. But it definitely is not a "trauma" unit.

Trauma nurses work in the ED, ICU nurses work in the Critical Care area. Some times it merges, but by the time that the patient makes it to a regular bed, the trauma has been taken care of.

This is probably why you did not get any response from the ER thread, these patients are no longer considered trauma by them.

I'm surprised you never heard from anyone. Did you become a trauma step-down nurse? I am a new grad/new nurse in a Level II trauma step-down, and so far I like it. Our unit does have patients occasionally, as over-flow, from other departments. Which forum do all the trauma nurses hang out on? Good luck in your first year.

These types of patients are no longer considered trauma patients. Trauma is a mechanism of injury, nothing more. You are treating patients that have made it thru the acute phase of the "trauma" situation, and then need addtitional care.